The Star : Olympian Welson draws confidence from Europe stint

BY TAN MING WAI


KUALA LUMPUR: Welson Sim has declared that he’s in the best shape of his life ahead the Rio de Janeiro Games in August.

The 19-year-old said that the two-week stint at the Mare Nostrum Tour in Europe recently had boosted his confidence as he prepares to make his Olympic debut.

Welson showed that he’s no pushover in a world-class field by picking up a silver in the 400m freestyle and bronze in the 200m freestyle in the first leg in Monaco two weeks ago.

Welson meets up with chef de mission Tan Sri Al-Amin Majid at the Aquatics Centre. - S.S.K KANESAN/The Star

He went on to improve on his B time in the men’s 1,500m freestyle, posting 15:32.67 in the Barcelona leg to brighten his hopes of qualifying for his third event in Rio.

“The results from European meets showed that my preparation for the Olympics is on the right track,” Welson said after meeting Malaysia’s Olympic chef de mission Tan Sri Mohd Al-Amin Abdul Majid on Thursday.

“It was a great experience to race against the world’s best swimmers. Now I will head to the Olympics without any fears.

“I’m also in tip-top condition. I want to use the remaining two months to mould myself into even better shape come August.

“I always believe that there is no limit to how fast I can swim. I can only get better.”

Welson  qualified for the Olympics under the A time for the 200m and 400m freestyle events at the Singapore national age-group meet in March.

Doing light training at the aquatics centre.

As for the 1,500m, Welson will have to wait until the middle of next month to learn from FINA, swimming’s world governing body, if his B time is good enough to make the cut.

But it’s the 200m and 400m freestyle that he will be focusing on.

“I will settle nothing less than improving on both my personal bests of 1:47.67 in the 200m freestyle and 3:50.33 in the 400m freestyle (which he clocked in Singapore), which are also the national records,” Welson stressed.



Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/sport/swimming/2016/06/16/olympian-welson-draws-confidence-from-europe-stint/